Military Careers Course Educates Educators about Army STEM Careers Story and photo by Vernetta Garcia, USAREC, Columbia BattalionJuly 17, 2014 It was full STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math – ahead for the fifth year of the Military Career Pathways 101 (MCP101) program June 17-19 in Columbia, S.C. Sponsored by the South Carolina Dept of Education, MCP101 is a professional development course that exposes educators to military life and the multiple military careers available to students. More than 70 educators statewide, including teachers, counselors and administrators attended this year’s three-day course hosted by the South Carolina Department of Education, Columbia Battalion, and Navy and Air Force Recruiting. This year's event had a significant STEM career focus.

The course is designed so that participants earn continuing education units (CEUs). After three days of instruction and touring military facilities, participants are required to design a project they must implement in their schools or district during the upcoming school year.

MCP101 also helps improve military recruiter and educator relations. It builds an understanding that the military offers viable career options. "We want all participants to walk away from MCP101 knowing that the military can be an amazing opportunity for the young people they guide," said Lt. Col. Michael Standish, Columbia Battalion commander

"I wasn't sure what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised about how much I learned," said educator Wanda Brown. Like many of the educators, she initially had little knowledge and a poor view of the military prior to the event. She definitely had a more favorable view after the event.

Midlands Technical College Northeast campus in Columbia, S.C. hosted the first morning. Educators learned about basic enlistment requirements, officer opportunities, the Reserve Officer Training Corps, the ASVAB career exploration, and March 2 Success. The lone Marine representative, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Erik Cobham, spoke about transitioning out of the military and how his military experience has contributed to his success in civilian business. Cobham is now the Military and Performance Fabrics Director for Milliken and Company in Spartanburg, S.C. Most of the afternoon was devoted to questions and answers with a military panel made up of the Army, Air Force, Navy, and South Carolina National Guard representatives. The day ended with discussions on STEM and how the 16 national career clusters fit with military occupations as well project proposals and guidelines.

"It's mutually beneficial to education and military communities when we can identify so many similarities between civilian and military careers and personalities," said Donna Smith, Navy Education Specialist of Navy Recruiting District Raleigh.

Days two and three were dedicated to learning about STEM careers in the three services, such as nuclear power, engineering, medical, chemical, aerospace technology, and aircraft and vehicle maintenance. The participants heard from Dr. Cindy Moss, Director, Global STEM Initiatives with Discovery Education and toured Fort Jackson, in Columbia, and Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, S.C. "STEM is our future, it is not enough to just have a four year-degree," said Moss.

MCP101 committee chairperson, Kama Staton, who is also a career guidance education associate with the South Carolina Department of Education said, "as our participants left the last afternoon, each and every one of them came up to me with one question – ‘Can I sign up again next year?’ It was a huge success."